https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html

https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/12/18/536007249/why-teens-find-the-end-of-the-world-so-appealing

https://www.thoughtco.com/dystopian-novels-and-teens-626666

Short Assignment #2:  The Response (5% of course grade)
We have now read three short texts in this class:
1. The Appeal of Dystopian Novels for Teens by Jennifer Kendall
2. Why Teens Find the End of the World So Appealing by Elissa Nadworny
3. The Right to Read by Richard Stallman
You will now write a response paper based on these readings.
Length: 1 – 1 pages, typed, double spaced, MLA format
Prompt:  The first two articles we read tried to explain why young adult dystopian fiction is so popular with teenagers today, while the third was a short story in this style. Based on these readings, as well as any familiarity you may already have with this type of fiction (either novels or movies), do you think that young adult dystopian fiction is an effective way to either empower young people and/or expose and resist problems in our society today?
While a response paper is based on your personal opinion/position about a topic, it must also follow general conventions of essay writing (introduction/body paragraphs with topic sentences; conclusions) and academic writing such as MLA format (including page set up; in-text citations; Works Cited page).
Here is some more information on Response Papers:
A response paper is a short essay which conveys the writer’s reaction to one or several texts that he or she has read. This kind of assignment is usually given to students after they have read a number of articles, or a work of fiction.
A response paper is often structured in the following way:
1. In the introduction, the book(s)/article(s), etc. that has been read is introduced and the focus of the response paper is stated
2. In the Body, one or several specific issues are brought up for examination
3. In the Conclusion, the argument (the ‘response’ to the texts that have been read) is summed up and some conclusion is offered
Depending on the teacher’s instructions, response papers may or may not require the use of external sources.
Note that response papers are not reviews; the writer is not supposed to offer a value statement on the text that is being discussed. Instead, the response paper (which is sometimes called ‘reaction paper’) is a kind of critical close reading of a specific aspect of one or several texts.
https://awelu.srv.lu.se/genres-and-text-types/writing-in-academic-genres/the-essay-format/response-papers/
Draft for peer review:  Sunday February 2nd
Due at the beginning of class: Tuesday February 4th